Disaster is waiting to happen

EVER since the Stardust inferno, which claimed the lives of 48 young people, experts have repeatedly called on the Government to bring Ireland’s neglected fire service into line with international practice on dealing with major disasters.

But almost 25 years after that appalling tragedy, the reality is that, if another Stardust catastrophe or a terrorist atrocity occurred today, the country’s fire services would not be able to cope.

Echoing the frustration of rank and file fighters across the country, Ireland’s leading officer has criticised the on-going neglect of a coal-face system which is ill-prepared to deal with a full-scale tragedy.